Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-12

d,wn stairs and procure matches
which. reflected. should be sure to
find the kitchen. So l CROPPED my
had ne-er been before and opened a
closet dor. The moment l did so l
heard s,und on the floor which l
knew was tin rush of mvrads of black
beetles. and : | would rather face a
dozen people tim feel under my foot
the "scrunch g one black beetle |
shut the door quietly.
The only thing let for me was to
grope my way throug, the passages to
the hall where | knew the exact posi-
ton of the match box witch stood on
the hall table.
Having got safely to the bottom of
tho staircase without seeing Or hearing
any thing. | was creeping along the
passage when caught the first faint
sounds % voices. | stopped, then vent
on again softly, while the sounds ae-
came palmer, l found that they
proceeded from Mr.. Rayner's study.
the door of which had to pass. dis
covered by the thin thred of light it let
out upon the passage that this door
was ajar, at the same moment that |
recognized Sarah's voice She was
speaking in low sullen tone. and, AS
/ drew nearer. was arrested half
against my will by words which seemed
to apply to myself Against the stupid
baby-face of a chit hardly out of the
nursery herself. Governess indeed"
''Is that all You have to say?" said
Mr.. Rayner. very low, but in his coolest,
most cutting tone.
That's that's all have to say"
said Sarah. with a choking sound in her
voice.
The woman was evidently unhappy;
I almost pitied her.
Then the matter is easily settled
You can 60"
II can go! go! Do you know what
you re saying? Do you think you
could replace me as easily as you can
such as her?"
THAT is my affair. You wished me
to choose between the services of an
underpaid governess and those of an
overpaid servant. have chosen"
"Overpaid! My services overpaid!
Ny services can't be Overpaid! she
Kissed out.
LAS long as You joined discretion to
your other undoubted good qualities, l
paid you according to that estimate.
Now that you let yourself be swayed
beyond all bounds of prudence by
trifling feelings of jealousy and spite
like a foolish girl, your value runs
down to that level. You are no longer
girl. Sarah. and your position is
changed in many ways since then. in
most for the better. If you can not ac-
cept the change quietly. you had bet
ter 60"
And you would let me go-for q
newcomer" said the woman passion
ately.
Il can not think Of sending away
any member of my household for the
caprice of any other member of it, how
ever valuable servant she may have
been"
MAY have been-may have been!
Ny work is not over yet. and, if don't
work for you, I'll work against you,"
she broke out in fury. I'll"
mot so fast. not so fast" said he
slowly. you will find that uphill
work when you have to deal with me,
Sarah Gooch."
He spoke in the hard tone I had
heard him use once or twice before-a
tone which always made me shudder.
Then his voice changed suddenly to a
genial. almost carcssing tone.
"Now do you think you will be able
to get on without me as we'll as l can
without you?"
There was a pause. Then I heard
Sarah burst into sobs and low passion
ate cries for pity, for forgiveness.
why are you SO hard? How can
you have the heart to talk like that
about my services, as if was too old
for anything but money bargains?
That chit. that Christie girl, that you
put before me. will never serve you
like I've done"
1.-The services of governess are not
is enough about Miss Christie, Sarah. "
Enough and welcome about the
little flirt-a creature that keeps dia-
monds from one man in her desk, and
wears round her neck letter from an
other which she kisses on the sly! Oh.
I've seen her, the little"
"Nonscnse!" said Mr.. Rayner sharp
ly. "And what if she doese 1t is NO
business of mine"
heard him rise hastily from his
chair and walk across the room; and
fed past like hare. Trembling and
painting, found my way to the hall
table, took ont of the box there half q
dozen matches and crept guilty
miserably upstairs. How Mr. Ray
ners, good opinion of me would have
sunk had ne discovered me listen.
ing to the conversation. cried with
shame and remorse as | shut my.
self in my room and lighted my candle.
did not feel bit frightened now. I
forgot even to turn the key in the
lock.
When considered collectedly what
had heard no longer doubted that
Sarah WAS the attendant of Mrs Ray.
ner, and shat when she spoke of work
ing against Mr. Rayner she meant t.
pupnsh TAR ana WIDE the secret he hat
30 carefully kept-that he had q wife
lettering on the verge of insanity.
saw how strong the woman's passions
were and how deep was her devotion
to her master, and began to understand
that it was hard for her to see 80 many
acts Of consideration showered upon
newcomer which she could not from
the nature of her position expect AnC
| tried to forgive her. but 1 hoped sh,
would 60 away all the same.
AS l rose from my chair I saw tha'
my desk had been moved. I openet
it and looked in the top compartment
which was where l kept Mr.. Rayner'l
present. 1t was in the case. Then
opened the lower compartment. will
the intention of reading the two note.
l had received from MI. Reade, and
discovered that the last one, the ont
that had come with the cigar box OF
that day, was not there. A suspicion
flashed through my mind-Sarah hai
taken it!
1t was Sarah then whom had sur
prised in my apartment that evening
She had taken the letter from my desl
and probably shown it to Mr.. Raynel
on some pretense of having "picked il
up" to prove to him that / was carry
ing on a clandestine correspondence
with Mr.. Laurence Reade, with whose
handwriting he was familiar. l wa
annoyed and Disguised beyond meas.
ure. l could have forgiven her fol